Ophthalmology Self-medication Practices: A Questionnaire-based Study

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The aim of the study was to identify patterns of self-medication practices in ophthalmology.

Methods: We conducted an electronic cross-sectional descriptive survey of the Riyadh regional population in Saudi Arabia.

Results: The study included 1354 subjects; 662 were males (49%), and 692 were females (51%). The rate of self-medication with prescription drugs (topical antibiotics and steroid-containing eye drops) in our sample was 37.2%. The number of respondents who reported using eye drops, whether it was an over-the-counter drug or a prescription drug, was 733 (54.1%). The most frequently used ophthalmic medications after lubrication drops were steroid-containing eye drops (32.6%), followed by topical decongestants (11%) and antibiotics (4.6%). The majority of steroid users (86.6%) were not aware of any steroid-related ocular complications.

Conclusion: Our study showed a high rate of self-medication practices along with a low level of awareness of topical medication-related side effects. If left unaddressed, this combination may result in high rates of preventable and avoidable adverse events.

KEYWORDS:

• Self-medication
• eye drops
• topical steroids

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. This submission has not been published anywhere previously, and it is not simultaneously being considered for publication elsewhere.

Additional information

Funding

None of the authors have any proprietary interests or conflicts of interest related to this submission.